This program headed in an entirely new direction when Shaka Smart came to town back in 2021. The Madison native was back in his home state after struggling out at Texas and had an instant impact, taking the Golden Eagles to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. That brilliance included a Big East title in 2023 and a Sweet Sixteen in 2024, bringing great talent into the program.
However, last season was certainly a speed bump for the Golden Eagles and a regrettable season that many are hoping to forget. Marquette got the season off to a really slow start and only barely recovered, finishing the year just 12-20 and in a tie for 7th in the Big East standings. After four postseason trips and four Top 5 finishes, nothing went right in Milwaukee.
Whether it was an abysmal offense, rebounding issues, or inconsistent play, Marquette didn’t get the job done. Fortunately, the offseason didn’t see a ton of departures from the program, shedding seniors Ben Gold and Chase Ross but getting back a lot of returning talent. Things were starting to stabilize as the season ended, so we’re far from panicking at all these returning players, with most of them underclassmen.
Marquette will be older and more experienced this season and also grabbed a pair of potential starters from the transfer portal. When you throw everything together, Smart hopes that this year’s squad quickly puts those struggles in the rearview and that it becomes a more fluid performance as a whole. We’ll run through those players right now, with plenty of familiar names to Marquette fans.
Projected Starters
Guard – Nigel James Jr. (Sophomore)
Last year’s top scorer even as a true freshman, James is a 6-foot guard from Long Island who was a Top 100 recruit and lived up to the billing. The Big East Rookie of the Year put up 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and was a bright spot on offense. He’s an athletic ball handler and scorer with great length who we’ll see make many more big plays for the Golden Eagles into his sophomore season.
Guard – Adrien Stevens (Sophomore)
Another rising sophomore looking to build on last season, Stevens made his way to Marquette from Mryland and was also starting a majority of their games. He averaged 7.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while knocking down 38% of his 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles need more consistency from their shooters, though we’re also expecting a big step forward in Stevens’ numbers now that he’s even more familiar here.
Guard – Nolan Minessale (Junior)
Named First Team All-Summit as a sophomore, Minessale joins the Golden Eagles after spending a pair of seasons over at St. Thomas, with 68 career starts already under his belt. His sophomore season was fantastic on both ends of the court, averaging 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. He uses his size well and can really make things happen inside the arc with his shot-making and passing; he’s certainly got future pro potential.
Forward – Royce Parham (Junior)
Another returning starter looking to make a splash, Parham is a 6-8 forward from Pittsburgh. A bench piece initially, Parham averaged 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds last season and should settle into an even bigger role as an upperclassman. He does solid work on the boards, especially on the offensive end, and does have potential as an outside shooter, though the former Top 100 recruit can certainly score and defend with ease.
Forward – Sananda Fru (Senior)
A 6-11 forward from Germany, Fru got his first taste of college basketball with Louisville last season and now heads up to Marquette. His work with the Cardinals was solid, contributing 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while starting a majority of their games. Fru was second in the nation at 76.5% from inside the arc and uses his elite wingspan well on defense.
Key Reserves
Guard – Colin Porter (Senior)
The one eligibility question for Marquette is if Porter will see action on the court next season. He’s coming from Liberty, where he started all 135 games he played in the Flames’ backcourt across four seasons, including 11.1 points and 3.4 assists as a senior. Porter is undersized at just 5-9 but he brings energy and has been a solid shot-maker, making 38% of his 3-pointers across his career.
Forward – Damarius Owens (Junior)
Another former Top 100 prospect looking to make his move, Owens has been a bench piece for the Golden Eagles each of the last two seasons. He did manage to carve out a more notable role as a sophomore, though that equated to just 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds a night. The numbers don’t quite show it with his limited action, but he’s a valuable scorer who can do damage at the rim and from outside the arc, though we’ll see just how the depth chart plays out.
Forward – Caedin Hamilton (Junior)
Hamilton is another player where the numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s now entering year four at Marquette and could be quite the asset off the bench. After redshirting his first year and assuming a bench role in his second, Hamilton saw several starts but was limited to 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds a game. While he was a big part of offensive struggles last year, he’ll likely still see the court as the backup big man if he can stay out of foul trouble and play more fluid basketball.
Forward – Alex Egbuonu (Freshman)
A 6-6 wing originally from New Hampshire, Egbuono is a fringe Top 100 prospect and the next new weapon for Marquette’s frontcourt. What he’s certainly become known for is his shooting ability and the Golden Eagles could certainly use another young weapon they can trust from all over the court. Egbuonu is still developing his game, though his physicality and sharpshooting give him a real chance to minutes right away.
Guard – Ethan Johnston (Freshman)
Maybe you won’t see a ton of Johnston on the court as a freshman, but Marquette is excited about what this 6-6 guard can bring when he’s out there. He’s still developing his game, and will need to work on turnover issues, but Johnston can score, he can run the point, and he’s an intelligent scorer and passer with positional versatility.
Forward – Michael Phillips II (Sophomore)
Perhaps another name on the rise, Phillips didn’t see a ton of the court as a freshman with the Golden Eagles but is hoping that changes now back for year two. The North Carolina native averaged just 2.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in that small role, though he’s a great long-range shooter who’ll get more chances to showcase his game now as a sophomore.
Schedule Outlook
Marquette starts the year off with a pair of home games but then gets a really tough test early, heading to Ann Arbor to face defending champion Michigan on November 11th. Four days later, the Golden Eagles head to Chicago, facing Missouri as part of the Legends Classic. After two more home games this team heads to the Bahamas and will be tested by Virginia and Texas A&M during the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The good news is after that return flight they will not leave Milwaukee for nearly a month, though there are still a couple notable matchups in the nonconference. Marquette hosts rival Wisconsin in a highly anticipated matchup on December 5th and will welcome Mississippi State to town a week later. Big East play then begins at home against Xavier on the 19th and will be quite the marathon of matchups.
With two games against every Big East foe, there’s not too much to draw from the schedule, though the road matchups with Creighton, Villanova, and UConn all come before the middle of January. There are some easier periods, though both games with St. John’s come in a two-week span in February. Senior Night comes early on February 26th against Villanova before ending the season with road tests at Georgetown and DePaul.
Season Outlook
Things did not go according to plan for Marquette last season, as a relatively young team just couldn’t score and had some really rough performances early in the year. Many of the players returning this year started to find their footing and will find bigger roles, but has Smart and his staff done enough to avoid another pitfall?
The clear star of the show is James and having him back as a sophomore is monumental. You can expect even more brilliant play on both ends from him as his game continues to develop, though he’s not the only player about which that is true. Stevens could be the real deal as a pure shooting guard while Porter would bring valuable experience if he’s eligible. Even if not, the addition of Minessale adds another strong shooting touch and versatile weapon into the equation.
Parham showed his potential as an underclassman, but the move of the offseason was bringing in Fru as the center point. With his size and efficient playmaking ability in the paint, he’s going to be a big improvement for this frontcourt and a reliable option late in games. Looking at the bench pieces we mentioned, there’s clearly a lot of potential there, and it’ll be interesting to see just who stands out.
While Smart certainly hopes the offense looks more cohesive, this definitely appears to be a very solid defensive unit once again. If Marquette is going to make noise in the Big East, they’re going to need someone beyond James to really step up this season. An offseason full of growth has helped the talent on this roster, but will the Golden Eagles live up to higher expectations after last season’s disappointment?
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